Shah Rukh Khan’s Baazigar Made Kartik Aaryan Want To Be An Actor

Updated: Tuesday, December 3, 2019, 21:37 [IST]

Kartik Aaryan may not have come from a filmy background, but that did not stop him from dreaming about being in films, and relentlessly pursuing it until it became a reality. Kartik revealed in an interview that it was while watching Shah Rukh Khan's Baazigar he felt like he had to be on the other side of the screen.

Kartik Wanted To Be An Actor After Watching SRK’s Baazigar

Although he made his debut with Pyaar Ka Punchnama in 2011, his life as a struggling actor did not stop there. It wasn't until Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, that things started becoming easy for him. As of now, Kartik has a couple of 100 crore films to his credit, and has made a name for himself in the industry.

Speaking to Humans Of Bombay, Kartik said, "My parents were in the medical field & I was going to do engineering. But in 9th grade, I saw Baazigar & I knew I wanted to be on the other side of the screen."

He further said that he moved to Mumbai under the pretext of studying Engineering, but actually moved there to be able to give auditions. When he got his big break through Pyaar Ka Punchnama, he was living in a flat with a group of 12 other boys. Post the movie there still weren't enough opportunities, and he continued living there.

"After Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, it all changed! Life has come full circle now-recently when I was in Gwalior, I was invited to my school as chief guest & kids were chanting my name! It was surreal!" he said.

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“I was born in the small town of Gwalior. My parents were in the medical field & I was going to do engineering. But in 9th grade, I saw Baazigar & I knew I wanted to be on the other side of the screen. I was unsure of my parents’ reaction—so I decided to study till 12th in Gwalior & then go to college in Mumbai. Luckily I got into a college in Navi Mumbai. I stayed in a hostel & searched for auditions. I had no contacts, so I’d type keywords like, ‘Actor Needed’ on Facebook. I’d travel for 6 hours 3-4 times a week for auditions. At times, I’d be rejected from outside the studio because I didn’t ‘look the part’. But I still had hope. Soon I got projects like a few seconds in an ad & they kept me going. Eventually I rented a flat in Andheri with 12 boys. I had limited finances. I couldn’t even afford a portfolio—I’d crop my face out of group photos to send to agents! All the while I’d skip college to give auditions & my parents didn’t know about any of this. Once I saw an ad for a film audition & decided to go for it. They liked me & auditioned me many times. My final audition script was the monologue that then became my identity! Finally, when I got the role, I was at Andheri station & immediately called my mom! She couldn’t believe it! After 2 & a half years of struggle, what I had imagined as a possibility, was now a reality. After Pyaar Ka Punchama, there still weren’t many opportunities. I stayed in the same flat with 12 boys till my third film! At the time, my mom was adamant I finish my degree, so while shooting, I gave my exams—& people in the exam hall were clicking photos with me! But I understood that she wanted my future to be secure. After Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, it all changed! Life has come full circle now—recently when I was in Gwalior, I was invited to my school as chief guest & kids were chanting my name! It was surreal! But what I have today, would’ve never come my way, if I hadn’t believed that I’d make it. I’m grateful for where I am & I know I have a long way to go. Sometimes all of it still feels unbelievable—from this point on, the possibilities just seem endless & my dreams, are just waiting to come true.”

A post shared by Humans of Bombay (@officialhumansofbombay) on Dec 2, 2019 at 4:54am PST

Kartik is currently busy with the promotions of his upcoming film, Pati Patni Aur Woh, in which he will star alongside Bhumi Pednekar and Ananya Panday. Directed by Mudassar Aziz, the film is a remake of the 1978 film of the same name. Pati Patni Aur Woh hits theatres on December 6.

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